APPENDIX E: LETTER OF INVITATION—EMPLOYER

Supporting Employment Counsellors in Rural and northern Regions

Dear Potential Participant,

You are being invited to participate in a research study conducted by Louise Nichol, a Master’s student in the Organizational Leadership (MALT) Program at Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia. If you do elect to take part, you are free to withdraw at any time without any negative consequences. My affiliation with Royal Roads University can be confirmed by contacting Dr. Gerry Nixon, Committee Chair, School of Leadership Studies, Ph. xxxxxxxxx.

This research is designed to facilitate and capture the dialogue between a small group of Employment Counsellors in rural and Northern Manitoba. The Employment Counsellors will discuss the supports they feel they need to enhance their work of helping individuals find jobs in sparsely populated areas of Manitoba. There are three steps to the data collection process in this study. There will be a one hour phone interview followed by two focus groups.

You have been selected for this study because you meet one or more of the following selection criteria:

• You employ persons in the occupation of Employment Counsellor.
• These Employment Counsellors live and work in rural or Northern Manitoba.
• Your organization is part of Fisher River Cree Nation
• Your organization is part of Opaskwayak Cree Nation
• You work for Employment and Training Services Manitoba, Rural or Northern.
• You have approved participation and will suggest one or two of your employees for this study.

The Community and Government organizations that utilize Employment Counsellors, will benefit from obtaining key information regarding sufficient resources, training, or other supports to properly assess and refer high-need employment seekers in rural and northern regions.